The European Union’s foreign policy chief called on Russia to reconsider its decision to designate the major independent pollster the Levada Centre a “foreign agent”, a spokeswoman said in a note yesterday (6 September).

The Russian Justice Ministry said on Monday it had included Levada in the list of foreign agents, a term describing organisations seen by Russia as engaging in political activities on behalf of foreign powers.

A spokeswoman for the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she was concerned by the move, particularly as it came just two weeks ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections.

“We call once again on the Russian authorities to reconsider their decisions on branding Russian non-governmental organisations as ‘foreign agents’, which is clearly aimed at restricting their independence and threatening their very existence,” the spokeswoman said in a note.

There are now 141 organisations Russia labels as foreign agents, the EU note said.

Levada is the most respected of Russia’s three main pollsters. While it routinely reports Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings in excess of 80%, it is widely seen as more independent than its state-run competitors, VTsIOM and FOM.

Closing of Levada Center would be a giant blow to all seeking to understand Russian society. Hope they survive. https://t.co/bGtebNXXZw

The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed concern yesterday (25 October) over Russia's recent adoption of a Cold War-style law, which could potentially imprison citizens in contact with foreigners for up to 20 years.

?Moscow’s push for Yerevan to adopt anti-NGO legislation is just the latest sign of its determination to mold Armenia into a loyal vassal that does its bidding with no questions asked, writes Armine Sahakyan.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Funny, in France, salafist imams payed by Saudi Arabia are considered as terrorists.
In France the build of mosques with saudi money is stopped.
All UE cries on Putin’s média offesive.
But Putin does not have the right to put on ban the foreign spies.
This is the UE democracy.

0

| Hide Replies ∧

Hugo Brito

07/09/2016 16:08

NGO = Spies

seems legit

1

| Hide Replies ∧

Jay

07/09/2016 20:52

In view of EU sanctions the bloc is hardly in any position to request anything of Russia.